Bed construction



Oct. 7, 1958 E. HENSEL BED CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 1'7, 1955 INVENTOR. HE/VJ'EI- W2 ATTORNEY- BED CONSTRUCTION 7 Filed Feb. 17, 1955 5 Sheets-$heet 2 I INVENTOR A40 ER/cH HE/v8.51.

#1 3 /l6 ATTORNEY Oct. 7, 1958 E, HENsgL v 2,854,675

BED CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 17, M555 3 sheets-sheet;

INVENTOR EIP/cH A's V551.

ATTORNEY United States Patent O BED CONSTRUCTION Erich Hensel, DoberluggKirchhain, Germany Application February 17, 1955, Serial No. 488,775

3 Claims. (Cl. -303) The invention relates to articles of furniture and more particularly to a separable connecting device whereby the side rails of a bed may be removably connected with the end boards, such as the head or foot boards.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel connecting device for bed structures which will make an increasingly firmer connection between the end boards and the load-carrying side rails when the latter are subjected to the load of a person resting on the bed whereby the stability of the bed structure is increased.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel connecting means for bed structures or the like which eliminates the possibility of corrosion of the connecting elements.

A further object of the invention is to eliminate the presence of metal elements commonly found in connections between the side rails and end boards of a bed. To this end, an important feature of applicants invention resides in the fact that the parts forming the novel con necting device may be non-metallic and capable of being molded of plastic.

Still another object of the invention is to reduce the cost of utilizing and installing connecting devices of the above described kind by providing parts which are capable of being glued to the side rails and end parts of a bed.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the structures and arrangements hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a side rail of a bed, and shows included therein a part of the connecting device constructed in accordance with the teaching of the invention.

Fig. 1a is a vertical sectional view of the side rail of a bed shown in Fig. 1 and taken substantially along the lines II.

Fig. 1b is a perspective view of the connecting part shown in Figs. 1 and 10.

Fig. 2 is a top plan plan view of a portion of one end of an end board of a bed.

Fig. 2a is a vertical sectional view of the portion of the end board shown in Fig. 2 and taken substantially along the lines IIII.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the connecting part shown in Fig. 2a and taken substantially along the lines III-III.

Fig. 3a is a perspective view of the connecting part shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of modified connecting part constructed in accordance with the teaching of the invention.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the connecting part shown in Fig. 4 as seen in the direction of arrow V of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a side view of a modified connecting element.

Fig. 7 is a side view, partly in section, of a connecting part cooperating with the connecting part shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the connecting part shown in Fig. 7 as seen in the direction of arrow VIII of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a further modified embodiment of a connecting device constructed in accordance with the teaching of the invention with portions thereof shown in section.

Fig. 10 is an end view of the left hand connecting part shown in Fig. 9 looking in the direction of the arrow X.

Fig. 11 is an end view o'fthe right hand connecting part of the connecting device shown in Fig. 9 looking in the direction of the arrow XL Fig. 12 is a sectional view of Fig. 9 taken along the lines XIIXII.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the connecting element of the connecting device shown in Fig. 9.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, la, lb, 2, 2a, 3 and 3a, the numeral 20 generally identifies a first member or connecting part of the connecting device, while the numeral 22 generally identifies the second member or connecting part of the novel connecting device.

Referring more particularly to Fig. lb, the first member 20 has a flat edge 24 and a back edge 26. Positioned along the length of the edge 24 is at least one recess 28 which extends from the edge 24' through the member 20 to the rear edge 26. Although only a single recess 28 is described, two of them are shown in the drawings. There may be as many of these recesses as will be required. However, because each of-the recesses is exactly the same, a description of any one of them will sufiice for all.

The recess 28 includes two coinciding rectangularly shaped openings 30 and 32 which open along the edge 24 and both of which extend and merge at the rear portion of the recess 28. Both the bottom wall of the opening 32 and the top wall of the opening 30 are substantially perpendicular to the edge 24, while the upper walls of the opening 32 are inclined upwardly and rearwardly beginning at a slight distance beyond the edge 24 to merge at the rearportion of the'recess with the rear of the opening 30. If desired, the recess 28 may stop short of the rear edge 26.

In Figs. 1 and lathe first member 20 is shown mounted in the edge of the side rail 34. This may be done by simply providing a groove in the edge of the side rail and then inserting and gluing the first member 20 therein. This form of connection completely eliminates the necessity for metallic elements such as nails or bolts and as a consequence, eliminates the possibility of corrosion. In the instant invention, both the first and second members 20 and 22 may be molded from a hard or tough noncorrosive plastic material.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 2a, 3 and 3a, and more particularly to Fig. 3a, it will be noted that the second member or connecting part 22 comprises a circular portion 36 which is inserted and glued into an end 38 of either a head or foot board of a bed. Because the portion 36 of the second member 22 is circular in shape, it is merely necessary to drill a hole in the end portion in which the second member 22 is to be fitted, which hole may be of any convenient size to admit the portion 36.

The remaining part of the second member 22 which extends beyond the confines of the end board 38 comprises a narrowed extension 40 which has at its end a pair of locking parts 42 and 44. The locking pieces- 42 and 44 project from both sides of the extension 40 and include tapered walls .46. The tapered walls 46 cooperate with the upwardly tapered walls of the opening, 32 in the first member 20. Both of these tapered walls engage with a wedging action so that as the two walls slide relative to each other they will provide a firmer. grip between their surfaces.

wardly, so that the inclined wall 46 of the second memher 22 will slide against the inclined wall of the opening 30. The extent of the downward sliding movement of the side rail 34 and the extent of wedging engagement between the two inclined surfaces will depend upon the extent of the load placed upon the side rail 34. Thus, if the load upon the side rail 34 is increased by a person resting on the bed, the inclined surfaces wedge tighter to provide an increasingly firmer connection between the first member 20 and the second member 22 whereby the stability of the bed structure is increased.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 to 8, the numeral 120 generally indicates a first member or connecting part of the novel connecting device, preferably made of a plastic material. The first member 120 is adapted to be inserted and glued into a cutout provided in the edge of a side rail of a bed in the same manner as the first member 20 in the previously described embodiment. Numeral 122 generally indicates a second member or connecting part of the novel connecting device which is to be inserted and glued into a cutout of an end board of the bed.

A recess 128 is formed in one side of the first member 120 and has an opening 130 which opens onto the straight edge 124. At the rear of the recess 128 there is an enlarged portion 132 which merges with incline walls 131 tapering toward the opening 130.

The second member or connecting part 122 (Figs. 7 and 8) likewise preferably made of a plastic material, includes a through recess 134. The recess 134, if inverted, would have substantially the same shape as the recess 28 described in the previous embodiment, except however, minus the opening 30. Hence, the recess 134 includes a top wall 136 which is substantially perpendicular to a straight edge 138, and a bottom wall which tapers downwardly and rearwardly starting at a slight distance from the straight edge 138.

As best shown in Fig. 6, a connecting member 140, preferably made of a plastic material, has projections 142 at its back end which correspond to the enlarged portion 132 of the recess 128 in the first member 120. The projections 142 merge with tapered side walls 144 which also correspond to the tapered walls 131 in the recesses 128 of the first member 120. At the forward portion of the connecting member 140 there is a downwardly extending toe 146 having an inclined side 148.

-In operation, before the first member 120 is inserted and glued into the cutout provided in the edge of a side rail of a bed, the connecting member 140 is fitted into the recess 128 so that the projections 142 will coincide with the enlarged portions 132 and the walls 144 thereof will fit congruously with the tapered walls 131. The first member 120 is then inserted and glued into the cutout in the side rail with the connecting member included in its recess 128 as described above.

After the second member 122 is inserted and glued in its cutout in an end board of the bed, the side rail and end board may be connected by the novel connecting device described above as follows: the toe 146 of the connecting member 140 is moved through the narrow opening in the straight edge 138 of the second member 122 and then permitted to ride downwardly so that the inclined surface 148 of the toe 146 will engage and wedge against the downwardly and rearwardly inclined wall 149 of the recess 134. Obviously, as the load on the side rail in which the first member 120 is positioned, increases, the wedging action which occurs between the inclined surface 148 and the inclined wall of the recess 134 also increases to form a firmer connection between 4 the first and second members 120 and 122 respectively.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 9 to 13, the first member or connecting part 220 and the second member or connecting part 222, both made of a plastic material, are each intended to be inserted and glued in cutouts provided in the side rail and end board of a bed respectively. Upon closer inspection it will be noted that the members 220 and 222 are exactly alike in construction. However, when they are mounted on their'separate parts of the bed they are so positioned as to be oppositely disposed. This will become clearer as the description proceeds.

Since the first and second members 220 and 222 are exactly alike, a description of the member 220 will suffice for both. Provided in the first member 220 is a recess 228 which extends from one edge of the member through to the other edge. In the recess 228 are a pair of projections 230 which are disposed on opposite walls 231 thereof. The projections230 have at least one tapered surface 232 which, as will become clearer as the description proceeds, performs a wedging action.

Although the drawings show two projections 230 on oppositely disposed walls of the recess 228, it will be clear that if desired, just a single projection 230 need be provided depending upon the use to which the connection is to be put. In the drawings it will be noted that the recess 228 extends beyond the ends of the projections 230 to admit a connecting member 234 made of a plastic material.

The connecting member 234 has provided on and along opposite sides thereof, two sets of grooves 236 and 238. Each set of grooves on one side of the connecting member 234 includes a wall which is inclined to correspond and cooperate with the inclined wall 232 of the projection 230 in the connecting parts. The two inclined walls on each of the sides of the connecting member 234 are in parallel relationship.

When the connecting device shown in Figs. 9 to 13 is placed into operation, the first member 220 is inserted and glued in a cutout in the edge of a side rail of a bed, while the second member 222 is inserted and glued in a cutout in one of the end boards of the bed. However, when the two connecting members are inserted in their respective cutouts it will be necessary that the projections 230 on one of the two members he oppositely disposed as shown in Fig. 9 so that the inclined surfaces 232 on the projections 230 are substantially in parallel relationship.

After the first and second members are properly positioned and glued in their respective cutouts, the member 234 is detachably inserted into the recess 228 of one of the members 220 or 222 and positioned so that one of the sets of the two sets of grooves 236 and 238 fit over the projections 230. The first member 220 having the connecting member 234 attached thereto, is then moved to project the connecting member 234 into the recess 228 of the second member 222 so that the other set of grooves in the connecting member 234 will cooperate with the projections 230 on the second memher.

In the same way as previously described, any increase in load placed upon the side rails on which the first member 220 is mounted will cause an increase in engage ment between the inclined walls of the sets of grooves 236 and 238 in the connecting member 234 and the V inclined walls of the projections 230 in the first and secapplied to several preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated and in their operations may be made by those skilled in the art, Without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A bed construction having a side rail and an end board and comprising a first member mounted on said side rail, said first member including a recess and at least a tapered projection extending from a wall thereof, a second member mounted on said end board, said second member including a recess and an oppositely disposed tapered projection extending from a wall thereof, and a connecting member including tapered walls cooperat ing with said projections to form aconnection between said members.

2. A bed construction as in claim 1, wherein each of said recesses includes similar tapered projections on oppositely disposed walls thereof, and wherein the tapered walls of said connecting member cooperate with said projections on each of said members to provide a firmer connection between said members as the load on one of said members increases.

3. In a bed construction having a side rail and an end board the combination of: a first female member, said side rail having a cut-out portion, said first female member being cemented into said cut-out portion, said first female member defining a first recess, at least one tapered first projection on said first female member projecting into said first recess, a second female memher, said end board having a cut-out portion, said second female member being cemented into said cut-out portion of said end board, said second female member defining a second recess, at least one tapered second projection on said second female member projecting into said second recess in inverted relationship relative to said first projection, and a male connecting member for insertion into said first and second recesses, said male connecting member defining at least one first tapered passage, the tapered Walls of which are complementary to said first tapered projection, and at least one second tapered passage the walls of which are complementary to said second tapered projection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 105,798 Grillet July 26, 1870 223,837 Clarkson Jan. 27, 1880 1,826,421 Butkus Oct. 6, 1931 1,875,805 Dickson Sept. 6, 1932 1,898,392 Richardson Feb. 21, 1933 1,972,108 Richardson Sept. 4, 193,4

, FOREIGN PATENTS 133,428 Germany Aug. 14, 1902 434,024 Germany Sept. 14, 1926 

